Men’s Six Nations: England v Italy
Date: Sunday, 9 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Coverage: Live audio commentary via the BBC Sport website and app
Elliot Daly will start ahead of Marcus Smith at full-back for England’s match against Italy on Sunday, with the Harlequins playmaker dropped to the bench.
Fraser Dingwall, who won his last England cap more than a year ago, comes into the centres alongside Ollie Lawrence, with Henry Slade left out of the matchday 23.
Dingwall’s inclusion means five of the seven backs are from Northampton, with Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith continuing their half-back partnership.
Jamie George starts at hooker as he becomes the seventh player to reach a century of caps for the England men’s team.
George will make his first Test start since losing the captaincy before the start of this year’s Six Nations and England head coach Steve Borthwick praised the 34-year-old’s attitude since the “disappointing” news.
“Jamie has been for such a long time, and continues to be, such an incredible player for English rugby,” Borthwick told BBC Sport.
“His impact off the bench in the last couple of games has been there for everyone to see.
“Jamie was clearly very disappointed by that news and there is never a good time for a player to receive that. I have also been in that situation.
“It’s immense credit to Jamie the positive influence he has had around the squad since he has recovered from injury and then rejoined the squad.”
Leicester scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, who scored in England A’s win over Ireland’s second string last month, is preferred to Harry Randall as the scrum-half cover among the replacements.
England have won all 31 of their previous meetings with Italy but took only a narrow 27-24 victory in Rome last year in the Six Nations.
Borthwick’s side lie third in the Six Nations table, one and four points respectively behind France and Ireland, who meet in Dublin on Saturday (14:15 GMT).
England team to face Italy
England: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith
